Ethiopian Red Cross Society (ERCS) demands 9 billion birr to asses’ humanitarian assistance in the 4 regions affected by conflict and violence.
According to ERCS assessment on the current conflict and violence on the ground, a total of 0.53 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance in Tigray, Amhara, SNNP and Benishangul-Gumuz regions which requires 9 Billion Ethiopian Birr to provide general and supplementary food, non-food items water and sanitation services and other essential.
Human and natural made calamities, mainly conflict, flood, locust swarm, covid-19, among others, have been alternately ravaging the country causing endless humanitarian crisis, to say the least. No sooner Ethiopia has tried to tackle the locust swarm, flooding, Covid-19 than hit by another wave of internal conflicts and violence in Tigray, Oromia, Benishangul Gumuz, Southern regions claiming the lives of hundreds of thousands. Millions of internally displaced people, vulnerable children, women, the elderly, people with disability and the wounded have left their home fleeing the conflict riven areas and other natural mishaps.
The National Disaster Risk management Commission (NDRMC) report of September 2020 indicates that flood has also affected 1,095,358 people out of which 313, 179 people were displaced across the country. Regarding Covid-19 pandemic in Ethiopia, it economic, social, health, education and political impact has continued affecting millions of peoples to say the least. Added to all these, the recent conflict and violence have complicated the humanitarian response of the National Society.
In 2019/2020 Ethiopian fiscal year, ERCS had provided: Food and nonfood items support, early recovery and rehabilitation services, Covid-19 protection and mitigation services, ambulance and first aid services, Psycho Social Support, and restoring family link services, to over 36 million individuals spending over 700 million Ethiopian Birr.
In the first quarter of the Ethiopian budget year, July – October, 2020, ERCS has reached 138,000 beneficiaries who were in need of humanitarian support with 70 million Ethiopian Birr. 300 volunteers and staff and 100 ambulances were mobilized for this humanitarian mission including the locust swarm affected areas of the country in which ERCS actively involved in saving the lives and protecting the livelihoods of the vulnerable. Since the onset of conflict and
violence over the last two months, ERCS has provided ambulance and first aid services and non-food item including medicine and essential shelter for the victims. Moreover ERCS Mekele Branch has been providing water trucking to the incidents. These services have been given to overseers of 30 million Ethiopian Birr.
Targeted to support 2,534,297 peoples affected in the four regions IRC has called its partners and volunteers to raise 233,090,712 million dollar fund.
IRC suggest enhancement of the culture of nonviolence through provision of peace education to increase peaceful coexistence among people, Better coordination and collaboration among humanitarian actors to address ever increasing humanitarian actors, Strengthening ERCS’s emergency preparedness and response capacity at all level for a better living.
IRC planned to support Western Tigray and North Gondar 646,462 population, Central, S/eastern, N/western and Eastern Tigray (22% from total affected 1,280,094), Southern Tigray, North wello and zone 2 of Afar (394,645), Metekel zone (336,823), Konso, Alle, Derashe and Bench Shoko of SNNP (204,493).As per the direction of the National board, 4 teams drawn from different departments and branches including Partner National Societies and ICRC representatives made an assessment in
Western Tigray and North Gondar
Central, S/eastern, N/western and Eastern Tigray
Southern Tigray, North Wello and zone 2 of Afar
Metekle zone of Benishangul Gumuz region
Konso, Alle, Derashe and Bench Sheko of SNNP
Assess and evaluate the impact of conflict and violence disaster affected people.
Identify the priority emergency and early recovery needs
Identify the most vulnerable people (IDPs, non-combatants, under five children, pregnant and lactating mothers, etc.)
Western Tigray and North Gondar